Aluminum chloride imports in South Africa: data, top suppliers and prices
Imports of aluminum chloride by South Africa reached $5.3 million in 2024 (8.4 thousand tonnes). Its share of world imports was 2%. The value was almost unchanged from 2023. Over 2017-2024 the trade grew strongly, by about 25% a year on average. The peak in this period was 2022, at $7.1 million.
Public statistics, latest complete year (2024). Values in US dollars. Page updated .
Imports by year, 2017-2024
Hover or tap a year for detail.
Year by year
| Year | Value | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5.3M | 8.4K t |
| 2023 | $5.5M | 8.8K t |
| 2022 | $7.1M | 12.5K t |
| 2021 | $2.4M | 4.6K t |
| 2020 | $1.2M | 2.7K t |
| 2019 | $1.2M | 2.3K t |
| 2018 | $1.0M | 1.8K t |
| 2017 | $1.1M | 2.0K t |
Where South Africa imports aluminum chloride from
One supplier dominates: India accounted for 69% of the value.
| Supplier country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| India | $3.7M | 69% |
| China | $1.6M | 29% |
| Italy | $61K | 1.1% |
| Norway | $3K | 0.1% |
| Netherlands | $3K | 0.1% |
| Germany | $3K | 0.1% |
| United Kingdom | $1K | 0% |
| United States | $1K | 0% |
| Poland | $0K | 0% |
| Sweden | $0K | 0% |
Average import price per kg
The average declared value was about $0.64 per kg, close to the world average of $0.59.
Declared value divided by weight, all 2024 shipments. Prices per shipment and per company are in EximDataX.
Aluminum chloride exports from South Africa
South Africa exported $3.3 million of aluminum chloride in 2024 (4.9 thousand tonnes). Its share of world exports was 1%. Most of it went to Uganda (48%), Tanzania (28%), Malawi (8%). Among the main buyer markets, Tanzania grew fastest (+224% on the year before).
| Destination | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Uganda | $1.6M | 48% |
| Tanzania | $910K | 28% |
| Malawi | $272K | 8.3% |
| Namibia | $191K | 5.8% |
| Zambia | $160K | 4.9% |
| Zimbabwe | $53K | 1.6% |
| DR Congo | $30K | 0.9% |
| Eswatini | $28K | 0.8% |
| Botswana | $18K | 0.6% |
| Mozambique | $15K | 0.5% |
Who is behind these numbers in South Africa?
The shipment records behind South Africa aluminum chloride imports (HS 2827.32): companies, dates, quantities and declared values.
Shipment records are in the platform
Tell us what you trade and we will show you the latest records on a live call.
Mirror data: built from the shipment records of the countries that trade with it.
Source: CEPII BACI (reconciled UN Comtrade data), HS 2017 edition, release 202601, Etalab Open Licence 2.0. Annual values in US dollars at the customs border; quantities in tonnes where reported. HS 2827.32: Chlorides: of aluminium.
Common questions
What is the value of aluminum chloride imported by South Africa?
South Africa imported aluminum chloride worth $5.3 million in 2024, the latest year with complete public data, about 8.4 thousand tonnes. That ranks it 16th of 184 countries worldwide, with 2% of world imports. The value was down 2% on 2023.
Which countries supply aluminum chloride to South Africa?
India was the largest supplier with 69% of the value ($3.7 million), followed by China (29%) and Italy (1%). The top three together account for 100%, out of 10 supplier countries in total. The United Kingdom grew fastest among the top ten, up 604% on the year.
What is the average import price of aluminum chloride per kg?
The average declared import value was about $0.64 per kg in 2024, 8% above the world average of $0.59 per kg. Declared value divided by weight mixes every grade, so read it as a benchmark rather than a quote.
How have imports of aluminum chloride to South Africa changed since 2017?
Imports went from $1.1 million in 2017 to $5.3 million in 2024, an increase of 384%. The peak was 2022 at $7.1 million. Over 8 years the average was $3.1 million a year.
Does South Africa also export aluminum chloride?
Yes. South Africa exported $3.3 million worth of this product in 2024, mainly to Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi. On balance South Africa is a net importer of this product, by about $2.1 million a year.
What is the HS code for aluminum chloride?
The HS code for aluminum chloride is subheading 2827.32. It sits in HS chapter 28 (inorganic chemicals; organic and inorganic compounds of precious metals; of rare earth metals, of radio-active elements and of isotopes). The full list of codes and descriptions is on the HS 2827 page.
How can I find the companies behind this trade?
For South Africa, EximDataX reads the shipment records of the countries that trade with it and shows the companies on both sides. We can walk you through your product on a short call.
Same product, other countries
See what your buyers are buying.Then decide.
Everything we show you comes from official customs filings — records, not claims. 30 minutes. Your shipment. Your HS code. Real platform. If you don’t see something new about your market by the end of the call, we walk away. No follow-ups.